Crackdown In-Depth: Strength

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Part five of our weeklong Crackdown blowout.

By Billy Thomson, Lead Designer of Crackdown

Welcome to Part V of our Crackdown coverage brought directly to us from Real Time Worlds. Each day they'll go in-depth with one of the abilities in Crackdown with new screens and movies to illustrate their points.

Strength Skill Overview Today is all about the Strength skill, I'll describe how the player can go from what appears to be an average man to a garbage truck throwing powerhouse!

With the Strength skill we set out to create a very simple hand-to-hand attack system coupled with a method of picking up and throwing objects that would be as intuitive and easy to learn as possible.

We met our first goal by making the attacks context sensitive and keeping the close combat control to a single button; whether the Agent is moving or stationary and the target large or small, the appropriate type of attack will be executed. We decided to use the same method of aiming and targeting for throwing objects as we did for firearms. So the player can easily take aim and throw the object into the air in any direction they like without the aid of the lock system but, if they want a quick method of throwing the object at the precise angle and direction required to hit their target, they can do so by using the lock and fire method they have already learned from firearms use - consistency and simplicity, just the way we like it.

Inspiration When you think of raw power and brute strength you may find your mind wandering towards that big green fella - the Incredible Hulk, and we were no different. We knew what we wanted the Agent to become at the top level, but we had to ensure that we also had a character that people would connect with at the base level. So, we made sure that the Agent started out as a solid, capable looking character; he looks strong but you can see that he has room for improvement; there is ample opportunity for him to grow physically as he progresses towards the top level. We also wanted the Agent to be as strong, if not stronger, than your average lead character in a game, but again we had to leave ourselves enough breathing space to make him noticeably more powerful at each level of progression. Once again I believe we met our original goals and created a solid looking character with a fun, constantly evolving skillset.

Progression Strength skill points aren't just awarded for any close combat damage that contributed to the kill; the player is also rewarded for battering enemies to death with anything from traffic cones to streetlights or, at higher strength levels, for crushing them with a well aimed vehicle.

Strength Abilities As the Agent becomes stronger he can hit harder, lift heavier objects and throw them further. Not only that, but he also becomes more resilient to all forms of attack. These new capabilities open up various combat options; heavy objects can be used as ranged weapons, alternatively soaking up a hail of gunfire can bring the whites of their eyes into sharp focus before they see red.

At the base level an Agent can kick a full grown man clean off his feet; easily lifting the still-smouldering corpse of a recently dispatched gang member and then launching it into the face of his enraged buddies, bowling them over like pins. Even at the base level an Agent is a powerful, fearsome foe. A four star Strength Agent is a muscle-bound monster that can lift and toss pretty much anything. Bad guys are not only kicked off their feet, their crumpled bodies are sent spiralling up into the air and they never ever get back up. It's also not unusual to see a maxed out Agent hurl a massive coach at a group of unsuspecting gang members - whether loitering or littering, the punishment always fits the crime!

As you now know, Agents start off stronger than your average man, lifting, kicking and throwing objects into the air that we couldn't dream of, and by the time they have reached their maximum physical progression they will be an unstoppable bone crunching juggernaut, capable of feats of brute strength that would turn the Hulk himself greener with envy.

I think I've covered everything about the Strength skill, but you'll need to get your hands on Crackdown to find out for yourself.